My father, educator C M (Charles MacKenzie) Herbert looked back on the educational influences that shaped his life and identified seven stages. This blog post, which covers the period from 1957 onwards, draws on his notes and other papers lodged at the Alexander Turnbull Library (1) and his discussions with me.
5/Papatoetoe High School 1957-1963
In 1957 Charlie left Ardmore College and embarked on the next stage of his career: foundation Head of Department (HOD) in Social Studies at the new Papatoetoe High School. He wrote in his notes:
"We began from the ground floor with Third Form only. I had plenty of time to build up resources, an improved version of our Mangakino scheme. Not every school welcomed Social Studies. Older teachers, especially historians, fought to retain traditional approaches; youngsters (the new geographers) were fighting for an equal place. Margaret Roberts, who had recently joined the school inspectorate, introduced me to other young teachers who were also enthusiastic about a social studies which would bring together elements of History, Geography, Economics, Anthropology, Political Studies in a study of people. We began planning for the first teachers' refresher course in Social Studies since 1945.
"Social Studies was introduced in March 1959 with a fanfare of trumpets but there was no follow-up until we formed an Auckland Social Studies Teachers' Association and produced a booklet on the teaching of social studies in Secondary Schools. Also, in 1961 I wrote Discovering Geography in New Zealand (2), trialled with Papatoetoe pupils."
This small textbook was so popular that a second edition was printed. Thirty years later, my sister Deborah was surprised to see a copy on the desk of one of her colleagues, an English teacher. The teacher explained that she used it to illustrate good clear English. Recently, I managed to obtain my own copy from a Hamilton-based bookseller. It arrived in good condition, its packaging festooned with a colourful array of stamps.
From November 1961 to February 1963 Charlie was in England as an exchange teacher and he took the family with him. During term holidays, Charlie, Bobby and the children travelled widely in the UK and Europe. The photo below shows the family's arrival back in Auckland: Ann, Gayle and Deborah, with Paul in the background and Charlie on the right.
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| Charlie Herbert and family arriving home on MS Willem Ruys 1963. Herbert family collection |
6/Aorere College 1964-1978
The sixth stage in Charlie's life in education is summarised in his curriculum vitae:
"In November 1963, I was appointed foundation principal of a new secondary school, Aorere College in Papatoetoe.
"My time at Aorere College can be split into two sections. As foundation principal I was responsible for building up an orthodox multi course co-educational secondary school from an initial intake of 180 third formers in 1964 to a full school of 1100-1200 pupils in forms three to seven by 1970.
"In 1971-1972, I spent a year at the University of London Institute of Education as a New Zealand Universities Fellow studying different aspects of secondary education. After my return I endeavoured to develop a school that was closely involved with its community."
Charlie explained in an interview with the South Auckland Times (August 23, 1978):
"Aorere College has over 90 adults attending day classes and extra-curricula activities covering about 130 different subjects. Over 2000 people attend the College's outside activities. This is a community school, and former pupils and senior pupils are eager to involve themselves in helping and teaching the younger ones. We try to build a record not only of what people want in the area but what they offer others. I suppose we could be called a giant learning exchange."
During his time as principal Charlie encouraged and empowered his staff to the extent that seven or eight went on to lead schools themselves.
7/National Advisor in Community Education, 1978-1989
On his "retirement" in 1978, Charlie became the National Advisor in Community Education for the Department of Education. This seventh stage is summarised in the citation for an award presented to him by the NZ Association of Community Education:
"Charlie travelled the length and breadth of the country, coordinating and sharing the ideas being developed in community education. He visited every community education outpost, injecting energy, suggesting alternatives, creating networks, putting the 'loan operator' in touch with others, remembering names and initiatives. He was always encouraging, and always optimistic, even in the face of political change.
"Charlie had the breadth of vision to appreciate that there were different approaches to learning – formal, non formal, close to home and distant. He pursued the idea of learning as a lifelong process. Through his energy and vision he inspired others to turn this vision into reality.
"His Charlie Herbert Newsletters to Schools not only kept those in the field in touch with what was going on in community education throughout the country, but also served as a catalyst for innovation. For more than a decade he provided a national lead in linking the many strands of adult community education. Hundreds of adult educators have been influenced by his energy and vision."
During the twenty years after his second retirement Charlie maintained his links with the education sector; mentored his children and eight grandchildren; wrote his memoir (3); helped green-fingered Bobby in their spacious garden at Red Hill, Papakura; and indulged his love of travel – he and Bobby visited over 100 countries together. The photo below shows Charlie and Bobby with their children, Paul, Deborah, Ann, and Gayle in the front.
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| Charlie & Bobby Herbert with their children 2007. Herbert family collection |
Charlie died peacefully in his sleep during the night of November 27, 2009. Bobby followed him two and a half years later.
Footnotes:
(1) MS-Papers_9549. Herbert, Charles MacKenzie, 1921-2009 : Papers 1937-2009. [Collection]
(2) Herbert, Charles M., Discovering geography in New Zealand, London: Longmans, 1961
(3) Herbert, Charles M., From wheelbarrow to carryall; a story of some Public Works communities in New Zealand, Wellington: Trade Union History Project, 1999
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